Mens' Retreat Outline

[HKHaugan]

Men’s Retreat 4/28/12
Theme: Sermon on the Mount
The Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Heart

Explanation about the retreat.
Five sections:
1. 9-9:30 Introduction---Matt.3-4 to set the stage.

2. 9:30-10:45 Two by two
break
3. 11:00-12:15
sharing

lunch

4. 1-1:30 morning summary and most significant personal learnings

5. 1:30-2:15 Prayer and Laying on of Hands for All Souls and individuals

Introduction
The first three chapters of Matthew establish Jesus as the Messiah, the King and God the Son. The fourth chapter does two things. It exposes the devil as our real enemy and it introduces the Kingdom of God through Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing.
The mission of Jesus was and is to reorient the focus of humanity as spiritual first, relational second and physical third by being and living perfect humanity as the Father originally intended. We are first, spiritual beings, then relational beings and then physical beings. This differentiates between our real needs which are eternal and our perceived needs which are temporary. Our real needs proceed in and from that order. This is the way of the Cross for the mind, the heart and the spirit.
Therefore, when we take up our cross we are doing three things. First, we are discovering the way for the heart---a new attitude. Second, we are relationally trusting Jesus through God’s Word for the mind---a new truth. Third, we are using our bodies as a vehicle for Holy Spirit-led action through faith---a new life. What Jesus did was to make all this possible by taking our sin upon Him as the perfect sacrifice once and for all time restoring our relationship with God. His shed blood canceled the power of sin and death enabling us to be at one with God and each other in His eternal Kingdom.

“1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God [the way]. 2 Set your minds on things above [the truth], not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory [the life in His Spirit] (Col.3:1-4).”

Jesus makes seven statements, six before the Sermon.
1. Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness (Mt.3:15).”
2. “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Mt.4:4)’”
3. “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test (Mt.4:7).’”
4. “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Mt.4:10).’”
5. From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Mt.4:17).”
6. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men (Mt.4:19).”
7. The Sermon itself is the seventh (chs. 5-7). This is how we become fishers of men. By following His specific attitudinal teachings we consciously experience the Spirit changing our worldly attitude into a Kingdom attitude. This is what is meant by the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the heart.

“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it (Lk.9:23-24).” We die to all our yesterdays in order to live today and ready ourselves for tomorrow because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8).”

This retreat then is one opportunity to take up our daily cross as Jesus commanded, apply it to our mind, our heart and our spirit. We die to our former mind, our former heart and our former spirit. While this is not the first time for most of us it is a way to experience the daily call.

Matt.5:1-12 is the foundation of the Sermon on the Mount. The rest of the Sermon, ch.5 through ch.7, is how we respond specifically when placed in situations that demand the attitude described in vs.3-12. They are what make us the salt, the light and vessels of the Spirit of the Law and the Prophets. They are the Spirit at work through us.